Electric vehicle charging hub planned near M5 services in Bridgwater
Powering the Future: Plans Unveiled for Major EV Charging Hub at Dunball Services
Motorists driving electric vehicles could soon find it easier to charge their cars or vans while stopping off in Bridgwater if plans are approved.
Ionity GmbH has put forward proposals for an electric vehicle charging hub at the Dunball services, located north of the recently-upgraded Dunball roundabout near junction 23 of the M5.
The London-based firm has argued such a development will help to meet the government’s aim for providing at least 300,000 publicly available electric vehicle charging points across the UK by 2030.
Somerset Council is due to make a ruling on the proposals in the coming months.
The site lies north of the existing Costa Coffee drive-thru outlet, bordered to the east by the A38 Bristol Road and the accompanying active travel link (which forms part of the ‘purple route’ within the Bridgwater local cycling and walking infrastructure plan, or LCWIP).
The facility will be erected a stone’s throw from a planned development of 400 homes east of Bristol Road, which if approved will be constructed north of the existing homes on Downend Road.
The charging facility will provide 16 charging bays, comprising ten standard spaces, two accessible spaces and four extended spaces.
Access will be achieved through extending the existing access road from Old Works Road, which serves both the Costa Coffee outlet and the neighbouring Shell petrol station.
A spokesperson for BNP Paribas Real Estate (representing the applicant) said: “Landscaping has been an element thoughtfully considered within the design, with the proposal maximising the inclusion of green space and amenity within the scheme.
“The proposal includes the retention of native grassland, and the inclusion of new trees and hedgerows.
“This development proposal will provide a raft of benefits, which include supporting the transition to highly sustainable modes of transport and supporting the sustainability objectives of a local employer.
“The facility is located within an urban area, on previously developed land, and will not cause any adverse impacts on the transport network.”
The council is expected to make a decision on the proposals by the late-spring.
Due to the scale of these proposals, such a decision is expected to be made by its planning officers through their delegated powers, rather than being referred to its planning committee north (which handles major applications within the former Sedgemoor area).